Red Wings fall to Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart (23) redirects the puck from Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (29) during the second period.

DETROIT — Patrick Sharp had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Kane broke a tie late in the second period in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 on Sunday.

Ray Emery made 23 saves to help Chicago solidify its hold on the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Niklas Kronwall scored for Detroit, 27-4-2 at home. Jimmy Howard made four saves before leaving after the first period because of a lower-body injury. Joey MacDonald stopped 12 shots in the final two periods.

Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl also left early in the first period because of an upper-body injury. Detroit already was without captain Nicklas Lidstrom, center Pavel Datsyuk and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson.

Lidstrom missed his third game because of a deep bone bruise in his right ankle and is expected to sit out at least one more game. Datsyuk is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and Ericsson has a broken left wrist.

Kane scored with 1:19 left in the second period. He made a move and backhanded a shot past MacDonald from the front of the net for his 16th goal.

Sharp’s power-play goal opened the scoring 3:47 into the game. His slap shot from the left point deflected in off Kronwall’s skate. It was Sharp’s 25th goal.

Kronwall tied it at 6:03 of the first with his 14th goal. He beat Emery with a one-timed slap shot from the left point.

NOTES: Detroit recalled forward Chris Conner from Grand Rapids of the AHL on Saturday night. ... Detroit’s Brad Stuart had an assist for his 300th NHL point. ... Sharp has 15 goals and 30 points in 40 career games against Detroit. ... Red Wings rookie defenseman Brendan Smith and the Blackhawks’ Andrew Shaw fought with 3:18 left in the second period. Smith was clearly the winner. ... The loss snapped MacDonald’s winning streak at seven games.